:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

Terry Wogan has announced he is to step down as presenter of BBC Radio 2's breakfast show. The 71-year-old told his listeners shortly after Monday's 0800 news bulletin, calling his decision to go "the hardest thing I have ever done". "It touches me deeply that I've played a part in your lives for, it seems, like generations," Terry said. Terry left his job as commentator for the BBC for the Eurovision Song Contest last year. -

It has been reported that Graham Norton is to leave the BBC later this year to return to former broadcasting home, Channel Four. The entertainment front man commentated for the British public at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, replacing veteran Terry Wogan. He also hosted the selection show, Your country needs you in January. Graham Norton is set to quit the BBC to return to Channel Four later this year. His lucrative contract ends and he is set to reject a new deal to take over the Paul O'Grady talk show at his former stomping ground. Should he remain at the BBC, he is set to move his talk show from BBC2 to BBC1. Norton is said to be unhappy at the BBC after his latest Saturday Night show Totally Saturday flopped and was later pulled by the BBC. He also hosts the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical reality shows that select lead artists for his stage shows, but with the Lord, who wrote this year's British Eurovision Song Contest entry, now in a battle to end his BBC contract and tak...

After the UK got their best result since 2002 this year, it looks like their is No More Lloyd Webber for Eurovision. According to the British Media, Andrew Lloyd Webber is close to joining the BBC's main rival, ITV. Lord Webber has worked with the BBC for the last few years with his search for the latest theatre star for smash-hit West-end shows such as Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver! and The Sound of Music. In 2008, the BBC offered Lloyd Webber another reality project to stop him defecting to ITV. Instead of the usual theatre based shows, the BBC in an audacious move put Lord Webber solely in charge of reversing the U.K's ailing Eurovision fortunes by making him write the song and chose the final 6 finalists, in which the British public would eventually chose the act to perform Webber's song. Despite one failed attempt by the head of ITV, Peter Fincham to lure Lloyd Webber, it seems like this time he has his man. The BBC are worried about impartiality and com...

Terry Wogan has given the thumbs-up to his 'Eurovision Song Contest' successor Graham Norton and described this year's show as flawless. Norton took over commentating duties for this year's show in May, when the UK came fifth in the music spectacular in Moscow, reversing the UK's recent poor record. Speaking to the Radio Times, Wogan said he was able to sit down and watch the programme for the first time in 35 years "and I thought it was wonderful. A spectacular show without a flaw in it". He stepped down from hosting the BBC coverage of the event after growing tired of countries bloc voting. He told the magazine: "Contrary to what is often believed I love Eurovision, or I couldn't have presented it for as long as I did. "This year they sorted the voting out, and I thought Graham Norton was excellent. People have said his approach was rather like mine, and all I can say is I take that as a compliment!" Source: RTE -

This is how the UK jury voted in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009: UK JURY VOTE 12 Points - Germany 10 Points - Iceland 8 Points - Norway 7 Points - Malta 6 Points - Turkey 5 Points - Ukraine 4 Points - France 3 Points - Bosnia & Herzegovina 2 Points - Armenia 1 Point - Azerbaijan And now here's how the UK public cast their votes by telephone: UK PUBLIC TELEVOTE 12 Points - Turkey 10 Points - Greece 8 Points - Lithuania 7 Points - Norway 6 Points - Malta 5 Points - Iceland 4 Points - Azerbaijan 3 Points - Denmark 2 Points - Germany 1 Point - Portugal COMBINED JURY AND TELEVOTE 18 Points - Turkey 15 Points - Norway* 15 Points - Iceland 14 Points - Germany 13 Points - Malta 10 Points - Greece 8 Points - Lithuania 5 Points - Azerbaijan* 5 Points - Ukraine 4 Points - France 3 Points - Denmark 3 Points - Bosnia & Herzegovina 2 Points - Armenia 1 Point - Portugal *Where there were two countries on the same score, the act with the higher public phone vote is judged to...

On the 31st January, the final of Eurovision: Your country needs you was held. During the talent search, it was decided that Jade wil represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow performing the song It's My time written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren. -

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed that the United Kingdom's entry in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, which he co-wrote with Diane Warren, will be called My time. The performer of the song will be chosen next Saturday during the final of Eurovision: Your country needs you. About the writing process, Webber told: "I'd had an idea for it and I played Diane what I thought was the chorus. She said, 'No, I don't think you've got a chorus, I think it's a verse.' I thought, 'Oh dear, this is a bad start.' But once I got over that we had pretty much done it. So the whole thing took about two hours." -

Andrew Lloyd Webber has ruled out composing "some silly nonsense song" for the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entry. Lord Lloyd-Webber has been asked by the BBC to put together the UK entry for Eurovision 2009 and will mentor the act selected to perform it. -

Out of all the news I have had to gather and research for this blog for the last 2 years, I have never had to write so much about Wogan like I have for the last few months. The BBC website reveals today that Terry Wogan will no longer be the face of Eurovision in the United Kingdom. The 70-year old Irishman has been involved with Eurovision for 35 years, both as a commentator and as a host for the UK national finals. He was also the host of the Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham in 1998 together with Ulrika Jonsson. Fellow Irishman from Co. Cork Graham Norton will replace him. Norton will host the new format UK selection show series “Eurovision: Your country needs you” in January as well as commentate the final from Moscow in May. Wogan tells the BBC he feels “sad to leave it all behind after 35 wonderful years of commentating Eurovision for radio and television” . "From my first, in a small musichall in Dublin, to my last, in the huge arena in Belgrade, it has been nothing bu...

Paddy Power, the Irish bookmakers have been quick to offer odds on the United Kingdom's chances of success at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. After it was confirmed that Andrew Lloyd Webber would pen the song and select the act, the book makers are offering a near reversal on the country's expected outcome compared to 2008. Paddy Power are offering odds of 9/1 for a United Kingdom victory at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. They are also offering odds of 3/1 on the song going to number one in the official UK charts. Odds of 40/1 are being offered on the United Kingdom finishing in last place again in 2009, with odds of 100/1 on the country receiving 'nil points' for the musical theatre master's efforts. Source: ESCToday.com NL

As mentioned earlier , Andrew Lloyd Webber said today he has officially accepted the “mission impossible” as he attempts to win the Eu rovision song contest for the United Kingdom. The composer of musical hits including the 'Phantom of the Opera', 'Evita', and 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat', will pen the UK’s Eurovision entry and search for the perfect voice to perform it in Moscow next year. However, in a competition dogged by accusations of ’bloc-voting’, which led presenter Terry Wogan to threaten walking out on the competition he first hosted 35 years ago, Webber has admitted it will be his toughest challenge yet. He said: “In my life I have never shied away from the impossible and this looks like the biggest mission impossible of all time, but with the might of the British public behind me who knows what will happen?” The composer will embark on a televised talent search for the vocalist and hopefuls have until November 21 to send their audi...

Andrew Lloyd Webber has been drafted in to help pick Britain’s next Eurovision entry. The move comes as competition bosses announced an overhaul of the final’s voting process to avoid another favouritism fiasco. Multi-millionaire Andrew, 60, is being lined up as a lead judge or mentor on an X Factor-style Saturday night selection show, hosted by Graham Norton. It comes after this year’s British hopeful — former X Factor runner up Andy Abrahams — came joint last. The contest was attacked amid claims Eastern European countries voted mostly for each other — especially towards winners Russia. So Eurovision bosses last night announced that this year, instead of each country getting its say, a jury will award points with the public also having a vote. The move will cheer the BBC’s veteran host Terry Wogan, who deplored rival countries’ tactics live on air last year. He is also expected to quit his role as the final’s commentator after 35 years in another change to the BBC’s coverage. A corpo...

More news from meetings in Moscow today have confirmed that France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom will not lose their 'Big Four' privilege of an automatic place in the Eurovision Song Contest final. Are we surprised? no. I get the sudden feeling that if they lost that "privilege" of their place in the final, then I would not be surprised if one or two countries withdrew. We must admit though, they do finance about 40% of the contest. Following another year of poor results for the Eurovision Song Contest 'Big Four', many media speculated that the four countries would surrender their automatic place in the final of the competition. As the four large financial contributors to the competition, their entries have been automatically qualified for the final since the introduction of a semi final in 2004. There will be no change in that status in Moscow. In Belgrade, Spain finished in 16th place and France could only manage 19th position, despite having two of...

In this week’s edition of the UK’s biggest selling celebrity magazine Heat, Nicky Johnston, interview Sir Terry Wogan. Read the full report from ESC Today

In an exclusive interview with the Radio Times, The BBC's Eurovision commentator, Terry Wogan has confirmed that he is stepping down as the BBC's Eurovision host after 37 years. The 70-year-old presenter is tired of the "political voting" which determines the outcome. Russia won the contest in Belgrade this year, while the UK's Andy Abrahams scraped just 14 points. "I was considering giving up before Belgrade, and now I have to say I'm very doubtful about ever wanting to do Eurovision again. I've had so much fun, but I think it's time for someone else to take over," he said. READ THE FULL REPORT FROM THE TELEGRADH (UK)

Although we believe this might take years to apply, fans through scotlandineurovision.eu are trying to force Scotland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The EBU are showing great interest to have Scotland in the contest, probably for extra money for the show. Bjorn Erichsen told eurovision.tv that "we are delighted to see the growing interest in Scotland to join the Eurovision Song Contest. It shows that, despite the emotions that came with the UK's disappointing results over the past years, there is still a strong following for the contest ... whatever scenario the BBC prefers, now and in the future, we are always open for a constructive dialogue that leads to a stronger Eurovision Song Contest, both with our Members, as well as with the public. But at the end of the day it is up to the BBC to decide."

You will remember earlier, we reported that the EBU confirmed that Scotland can enter their own Eurovision entry, if they want to. Well now The Times news online reports that Paul Gambaccini, the broadcaster and pop historian, is supporting Scotland’s bid to have its own Eurovision song contest entry. The veteran DJ claims Scotland would stand a better chance of success than the UK because England’s sneering approach to the competition has made it unpopular with other European countries. Gambaccini claims Scotland would be able to draw on a wide range of talent, including established artists, as opposed to the “lightweight” English entries in recent years. He argues that splitting the UK into its constituent countries would also allow Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to vote for each other — counteracting the block voting of the former Soviet bloc countries — and guaranteeing an end to the dreaded “nul points”. Jemini, the artist representing the UK in 2003, received no ...

A week on, Terry Wogan, Eurovision presenter for the BBC, is still complaining. He has now blamed racism in eastern Europe for the UK's poor showing during last week’s Eurovision Song Contest. Read full story

The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain (also known as the 'Big 4' countries) could lose their guaranteed place in the Eurovision Song Contest final following criticism that the event is becoming increasingly biased against western European countries. Read more UK could lose free pass to final

ESC Today reports that after claims that the British broadcaster, BBC, would withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest after a series of disappointing results, a spokesperson from the channel has told a British newspaper that they shall not withdraw. The spokesperson told The Mirror that "as far as the BBC is concerned, the contest represents great value for money for its viewers". Also read an interesting blog post by GulfStreamBlues